Beijing’s foreign and defense departments voiced their dissatisfaction following remarks made by Pete Hegseth, labeling the People’s Republic as a ‘threat’ during a security symposium in Singapore. The Chinese officials publically referred to Hegseth’s statements as ‘deplorable’. Hegseth, at the event, urged Eastern allies to enhance their defense budget commitments. Beijing cautioned against unwanted ‘intrusion’ in matters concerning the South China Sea and Taiwan.
On June 1, the Chinese foreign office reported vehement opposition from its end towards what they termed as ‘slanderous’ statements articulated by Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth a day ago. Beijing rebuked Washington for continually dismissing calls for tranquility coming from countries in the region. The Chinese government took exception to Hegseth’s views of it being a security risk to the Indo-Pacific domain.
The foreign office unambiguously pointed out that Hegseth’s comments at the Shangri-La Dialogue in Singapore on May 31 were not acceptable. They said Hegseth grossly dismissed regional calls for peaceful coexistence and progress and rather perpetuated the narrative of cold war-era divided loyalties. Accusations of baseless allegations against China and incorrect labeling of it as a ‘threat’ were highlighted on the ministry’s website.
Further, they pointed out that US actions are escalating tensions in the Asia-Pacific. According to their statement, the deployment of aggressive military hardware by the US in the South China Sea and its consistent role in fanning the fires of conflict in the region are making the environment increasingly volatile.
In a response by the Chinese defense ministry, they conveyed that the US has made it a habit to use such platforms with the intent to incite disputes, plant the seeds of discord, and pursue self-centered goals. Thus, portraying themselves as extending an olive branch while effectively doing the reverse by stirring unrest.
The ministry’s mouthpiece, Zhang Xiaogang, claimed that China’s military is ready to collaborate with other nations in the region to challenge any hegemonic attempts that might destabilize the Asia-Pacific region. Hegseth’s push for allies in the Indo-Pacific to spend more on defense, citing an ‘actual and plausible’ menace from China, did not bother them.
Regarding Hegseth’s call to bolster defense investment, the Australian PM Anthony Albanese mentioned that his government had committed an additional ten billion Australian dollars (around US $6 billion) for defense. He clarified that the government will determine its defense policy, as evidenced from his comments made to the press.
As a testament to its long-standing defense rapport with the Philippines, the US military strategized the deployment of Typhon launchers capable of firing missiles, targeting both China and Russia situated on the island of Luzon this year. These deployments add more pressure in an area already rife with dispute between China and the Philippines over specific islands and atolls in the South China Sea.
The South China Sea witnesses increasing maritime encounters between their coastguards as both nations attempt to assert their interests. China’s representatives at the forum opined that the primary risk to the South China Sea’s stability is ‘external intervention’ and praised their own approach of ‘goodwill and restraint’ towards these geopolitically-contentious matters.
A major state-affiliated Chinese media outlet, the Global Times, quoted Senior Colonel Zhang Chi from the PLA National Defence University who criticized foreign powers for sending military planes and ships for ostensible ‘freedom of navigation’ missions in the South China Sea. The Senior Colonel asserted such meddling violates China’s territorial sovereignty and maritime rights.
Maritime exercises in the bustling waterway involved the United States, Australia, Japan, and the Philippines. Despite this, China asserts claim over nearly the entire South China Sea, including parts that fall within the exclusive economic zones of several nations: Brunei, Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines and Vietnam.
An international arbitration tribunal, however, quashed Beijing’s claim in 2016, ruling out that it ran counter to established international laws. Irrespective of the ruling, China does not hesitate to express sovereignty over the South China Sea.
The question of Taiwan was another point of contention between the two powers. The Chinese foreign ministry warned the US against ‘playing with fire’ on this matter. In spite of these cautioning words, Hegseth was unrelenting in his speech at Asia’s premier forum for defense leaders and officials.
He stated that any forceful attempt by China to take over Taiwan ‘would lead to disastrous outcomes’. He made this notable remark while addressing a group of leading military officials, defense leaders, and diplomats across Asia.
China remains resolute in its claim to ‘reunify’ with Taiwan, while maintaining the possibility of wielding forceful means if required. However, the government of Taiwan firmly rejects these assertions by Beijing, arguing that only the island’s inhabitants have jurisdiction over their own destiny.
Negotiations and strategic maneuvering continue to characterize the relationship between these nations, with the voices of global leaders adding further complexity and nuance to this emerging narrative. In this ever-evolving geopolitical climate, the path forward remains uncertain as nations strive to balance international diplomacy with the specifics of their national interest.
The post Uproar as Hegseth Labels China a ‘Threat’ at Security Symposium appeared first on Real News Now.
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